Before Orange County, CA-based modern rock band Atreyu launch their Congregation of the Damned tour October 20 in Anaheim, CA, the band will release a free five-song digital EP titled Covers of the Damned on October 12 via www.guvera.com (US only). Monsterenergy.com will offer fans an early listen with a two-day exclusive stream of the full EP starting on Oct. 6. Covers of the Damned will also be available worldwide on iTunes, amazon.com and all popular music download sites. Limited edition vinyl copies will be available exclusively at each show on the tour (dates below). The tour will see several of these songs performed live with special guests.

Covers of the Damned, produced by Noah Shain (As Tall As Lions, Orson, Endless Hallway), features two cover songs by Atreyu and three collaborations with the other bands on the tour. Shain notes that, “These young bands all have a unique and different approach to rock music...such radical interpretations of dangerously classic songs. It was amazing to see and hear these guys work together! We recorded the album in a very short amount of time and everyone followed their instincts, so what you hear is an honest interpretation of the music of an older generation filtered through the ears and hands of the generation of artists making the music that defines today's culture. Kind of a once in a lifetime gig for me. And not only is it a bad ass record, it's gonna be a f__king amazing tour!” Adds Atreyu’s Alex Varkatzas, “A whole tour teaming up to release an EP is a rare thing. We wanted to collaborate with the bands on our tour to create a fun series of covers. This shit was fun to record and will be fun to listen to.”

Atreyu and the members of Chiodos, Blessthefall and Endless Hallway recorded the EP in White Buffalo Studios from September 12 to 17. Architects (UK) vocalist Sam Carter recorded his parts remotely from the UK.

All of the songs on the EP were important to the members of Atreyu in their formative years and contributed to their development as a band. Fans can get a sneak preview of behind-the-scenes footage of Atreyu recording their cover of Aerosmith's "Livin' on the Edge" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evvvZmohNNw. There will also be an exclusive stream of the song on the band’s Facebook page on October 1

“I had a blast during the whole process,” Marc McKnight (Atreyu) says. “I remember air drumming to ‘Livin' on the Edge’ with my friends in a fourth grade talent show. I couldn't have been more excited to play it as a cover song. Also, Deftones were one of the first heavy bands I got into, so it was a pleasure to attempt to recreate their brutality.” Adds Brandon Bolmer (Chiodos), “I’ve always enjoyed Deftones, so this song is an expression of my gratitude to all of them. I’d like to dedicate this song to Chi Cheng.”

“I really wanted play an Aerosmith song,” says Brandon Saller (Atreyu). “We did Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ years ago, and I wanted to cover another iconic band from that era. No matter what age or where you're from, Aerosmith comes on and you're ready to party.”

For Ryan Jackson of Endless Hallway it was “great to play music outside of your own material, it’s something

we rarely do. Being a huge fan of the Clash and certain melodic punk, I was pretty excited give “Holiday in Cambodia” a go. I think it turned out really well, it’s such a fun song. It would be awesome to play it live with everyone on tour.”

On recording with some of their upcoming touring mates, Atreyu’s Dan Jacobs says, “Having all the bands on this tour participate in something like this gives all our fans an interesting perspective on some of the music that inspired some of us to get together and start playing music.”

For Travis Miguel (Atreyu), the thrill of recording Covers of the Damned was getting to work with everyone Atreyu will soon be touring with. “Doing cover songs with your own band is one thing,” he says. “But collaborating with members of various other bands for cover songs is an even cooler experience because outsiders become insiders who give input and influence, which in many ways, can take it to a whole new level.”

Atreyu weren’t just involved in choosing the songs for Covers of the Damned, learning them, coordinating the collaborations with the other bands and tracking the tunes, Atreyu bassist Marc McKnight also created the art work.

“I designed all of the art based around this project, and as an artist, I have to say, creating for your own band is definitely the most rewarding thing,” he says.

Atreyu’s Congregation of the Damned Fall tour will run through November 27 in West Hollywood. After that, the band will head overseas for a string of UK dates with Bullet For My Valentine and Bring Me The Horizon beginning December 6th (see itinerary below), to be followed by a spot on Australia’s “No Sleep Til” festival. Atreyu will play alongside bands such as Megadeth, Descendents, Aklaline Trio, NOFX among others.”